Excavator



C. H. RUTH.

EXCAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-19.1921- 1,438,332, v Patented De0.12,1922:.

Patented l2, 5i?

CHARLES H.

RUTH, 0F HUNTENG'IE'ON PARK, CALIFORNIA.

EXCAVA'IOE.

Application filed August 19,1921. Serial No. 493,694.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. RUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntington Park, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dredging machines and particularly to the diggers therefor.

Gne object of the invention is to improve the construction of the digger whereby the material lifted by the buckets will be properly and automatically dumped.-

Another object is to provide a digger bucket of such construction that the door which retains the material in the bucket will operate to assist in expelling the material from the bucket.

Other objects and. advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a dredging machine showing the improved buckets and the means for opening and closing the doors thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the buckets and a portion of the chains.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal central sectional view through the bucket, the bucket being in closed position and on the straight portion of the chain.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, but showing the bucket in the act of dumping its contents.

Figure 5 is an elevation looking toward the door of the bucket, the door being in closed position, and the side guides in section.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents the side guides at the upper and'lower ends of which are supported the large sprocket wheels 11 and 12, and around which sprocket wheels the endless chains 10 run. Extending transversely between the chains, and supported in certain of the links, at regularly spaced intervals along the chains, are the bars 13, and adjacent each of the bars, at the ends thereof, are the depending brackets 14. Se-

cured to the brackets, and projecting outf wardly from the chains, are the buckets 15, the forward ends of which are arranged to scoop up the material to cause the material to enter the buckets. On each side of the rear end of the bucket there is mounted a bracket, shown at 16, and pivotally supported on each bracket is the link 17, the same being in the form of a bent arm having the extremity of its upper horizontal arm portion provided with a projection 18. Mounted on the guides 10, between the upper and lower sprockets 11 and 12, and adjacent the upper sprockets, are the smaller sprocket wheels 19 over which the lower laps of the chains run, said smaller sprockets being arranged in such position that they lift the said lower laps of the chains. The upper portion of the door 20 has secured thereto one arm of each of a pair of substantially U-shaped members 21, the other arm of which is pivotally connected with one of the chains. The links or brackets 16 17 are also pivotally connected with the chains at 16 and 17, respectively, so that as the chains pass over the smaller sprockets 19, the buckets will be tilted. At the same time, the curved members 21 are also tilted with the result that the door is swung inwardly and forwardly against the material within the bucket. This movement of the .door forces the material forwardly out through the: front end of the bucket. Thus the bucket is tilted into the proper angle for dumping, while atthe same time the door moves forwardly expelling the material therefrom.

As thechains and buckets pass onto and around the larger upper sprockets 12, the members 17 and 21 are restored to their normal positions, so that when the buckets enter the upperstraight laps of the chains the doors are in closed position, and the buckets ready for the next digging opera- 1 tion. It will also be noted that as the bucket is carried past the smaller sprocket wheels the rear end of the bucket is raised while the forward end is depressed, and that the door maintains the same angle, with respect to the chains, as when in closed position, or approximately such an angle.

What is claimed is:

1. A digger means for a dredging machine including guides, sprockets mounted at the ends of the guides, endless chains engaged around the sprockets, intermediate smaller sprockets, the chains passing over and being lifted by the smaller rockets, buckets cerrlecl by the chems, and doors 111 the buckets and operetively connected with the chains whereby when the chains pass: over the smaller sprockets the buckets will be tilted and the doors movecl forwardly to expel the contents otfthe buckets.

2. A. digger means for a dredger inelu ling endless chains arm. sprockets and intermediate sprockets for elevating the lower laps ot-the chains, buckets pivotally supported on the chains and arranged to be tiltecl into clumping position when the chains pass over the smaller intermediate sprockets,

doors pivotally supported in the rear ends of the buckets, members carrietlby the doors and loosely pivoted on the chains and errangecl to maintain the relative positions of the doors When the buckets are in clumping position to expel the material from the buckets as the buckets pass over the smaller sprockets.

In testimony whereof, I ztfilx my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. RUTH.

Witnesses:

C. W. W'ELTER, C. A. LEE. 

